1. Sion 2. Her Children 3. the Beast and Where overthrown 4 The two Witnesses Rising 5. Pope and Jesuit 6. Enemies of the Church all Flying 7. Angels destroying them Distressed Sion RELIEVED OR The Garment of Praise for the Spirit of Heaviness Wherein are Discovered the Grand Causes of the Churches Trouble and Misery under the late Dismal Dispensation With a Compleat History of and Lamentation for those Renowned Worthies that fell in England by Popilh Rage and Cruelty from the Year 1680 to 1688. Together with an Account of the late Admirable and Stupendious Providence which hath wrought such a sudden and Wonderful Deliverance for this Nation and Gods Sion therein Humbly Dedicated to their Present Majesties By Benjamin Keach Author of a Book called Sion in Distress or the Groans of the True Protestant Church Licensed and Entred according to Order LONDON Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside 1689. To their Most Excellent Majesties William and Mary by the Grace of God King and Queen of England c. Dread Soveraigns May it please your Majesties MOST graciously to cast your Princely Eyes And to accept of this small worthless Mite From one whose Soul 's enamour'd with the sight Of seeing you brought to Great Britains Throne Which Angels do delight to look upon Methinks I see the Cherubs clap their wings Singing sweet Anthems to the King of Kings That such a King and Queen are set on high In glorious Power and Soveraign Majesty No marvel 't is since by Angelick Power You 're both preserved to this happy hour For sure he 's blind who can't discern most clear T was by Heavens Conduct you were both brought here Such a stupendious Providence before Was never known and never may no more Be seen again in this Great Northern Isle Which fills our hearts with joy makes us smile What a distressed and for lorn estate Was this now glorious Kingdom in of late Poor England alas did bleeding lye For many years inslav'd by Tyranny And Sion too was in the same condition Weeping with bitter groans and deep contrition Let me a little freely now dilate Upon Great Britains miserable state When first on her you cast your Royal look And her Salvation likewise undertook A glorious Enterprize which Heaven did bless With such amazing and admir'd success Sick sick as heart can hold the Kingdom lies Filling each corner with her mournful cryes Sometimes she burns as when a Fever heats Anon Despair brings cold and clammy sweats No rest she gains or if she do she dreams Of Massacres Fires Blood and direful Theams She no Physicians finds Bold Empiricks Are from St. Omers sent to try their tricks Who wicked crafty counsel take together To poyson her 't was this that brought them hither Nay hold says Petre we 'l first let her blood That 's fit for her and will do us most good Her Blood 's infected so corrupt I see Naught else can cure her Northern Heresie But let us first prescribe a Golden Pill To ease her that she may suspect no ill But may conclude we choice Physicians be The Pill that they prepar'd was Liberty Curiously gilt it was and tasted well But when 't was down she in t ' an Ague fell Then these State-Mountebanks do her assure Jesuits-Powder will effect the cure Yet still she 's sick and seiz'd with stronger fits Which made most think these Drs. all were Cheats Their Physick was of such a composition It made the Body Politick in confusion And many evidently did foresee 'T was to effect a direful Tragedy They did pretend to purge ill humours out That they their black Designs might bring about And th' evil humours which did lurking lie In divers parts o' th' Body grew thereby More strong and vigorous and did disturb What nature did before so strongly curb That wise Physicians made this wise conclusion T would wholly change the Bodys constitution From good to bad from healthy free and sound Would cause malignant humours to abound Ill ones no doubt it was design'd to nourish Tho' for a while some good ones it did cherish Thus may a Medicine which is safe and good As Liberty is if rightly understood When ill prepared and unduly given Prove dangerous as any under Heaven And pity 't is this universal Pill That has wrought wonders was design'd so ill But ah what shall she do th' Impostors Art Her head doth poison and corrupt her heart Must she O must she die O hear her groans Hear Sions too O hearken how she moans There is no help but from the God of Wonder 'T is he alone that 's able to bring under This Foe to Nature which is grown so strong And hath her vital parts opprest so long All her Physicians weep and secretly Were heard to say poor England now must die Unless th' Almighty by his own right hand Work Miracles to save our sinking Land. But who 's the Instrument will rise up for her Who is the Man whom God delights to honour To bring relief when all her hopes were gone Great Sir 'T was you Jehovah fixt upon No sooner heard she your victorious Name But she reviv'd and cheerful soon became But ah the Winds were cross this made us fear We n're should have your long'd for presence here And when we heard you were upon the Seas Our hearts rejoyced yet had not perfect ease We doubted still what dangers you might meet In that most Glorious and Renowned Fleet Yet still our Prayers more fervent were and more To see your Royal Person safe on shore And all the time in England you have been What strange amazing wonders have we seen A poor sick Land divided by Christs power Made whole and all united in an hour United so as joyntly to combine To own this just and glorious design O're us long hung a black and dismal Cloud From whence we fear'd a dreadful storm of blood Yet when it brake nought but sweet dews distill This this may sure our souls with wonder fill To see a Mighty Army rais'd by Rome Some flie for fear and others Friends become To gain the Victory yet never fight This plain appears Gods hand to all mens sight Poor Sion who i' th' dust did prostrate lie Bewailing her approaching misery Began to rouse and on her feet to stand When you upon the English Shore did land She long expected in our Hemisphere A glorious Star would certainly appear And now he 's come she can't for bear to sing With Joy to welcom her desired King And as the Sun whose powerful reflection Gives to all Vegetables a resurrection Even so Gods Witnesses now raised are Whose bodies lay like dead so lately here For though it was in the cold Winter time We saw so great a change in our sharp Clime As made us cry The Winter now is gone Your powerful Rays in this our Horizon Made Flowers bud as in the early Spring And chirping Birds
a warm debate VVho loses Error truly gains the field And he is Victor that to truth does yield VVhere e're you find it though in mean aray Subscribe and win the glory of the day O what 's the world but Shackles to the mind VVhat 's Reputation but a fleeting wind VVhy should those bawbles which the Lord abhors Become the Sacred Truths Competitors Away with all such rubs let truth take place And then the Springs of Everlasting grace VVill drop down blessings Unity increase Among my Children as the Fruits of peace Sion's Children Our common danger and the Real sence Which we have got by dear experience Of those advantages our cruel Foe Gets by our Factions will unite us so As that our Enemies shall ne'er prevail To break our League or make our courage fail But speak Dear Mother has some new affright So discompos'd you that you fear our Light Is near Extinction Tell your Sons we pray What are the Symptoms of th' expiring day Why do you Judge that Englands day of grace Draws to an Evening and declines apace Shew some prognosticks of that dismal night That threatens to succeed our Gospel Light. Sion When Sol once touches our Meridian Line It straight descends does by degrees decline Its heat grows less its dis-appearing Light Yields to the Sable of approaching night Just so the Gospel in its Altitude Once shot such beams that in this Isle ensu'd So great conversion that those former days Did feel its blest and universal Rays A general heat did warm this happy Nation From its benign and powerful operation But now it falls and from our Horizon It s vigorous influence is almost gone Thousands of Sermons lately have been preacht But very few if any sinners reacht How ineffectual is the quickening word It shines but warms not 't is but like a Sword That 's fair to sight but has not Edge at all Few prick'd at heart and scarce do any fall At Jesus feet Or have a sense of sin Confessing how Rebellious they have been It is a dismal and apparent sign That night comes on when Phoebus does decline When heat and fervour fail our hemisphere Will quickly see its glory disappear The ev'ning of the nat'ral day is come When harvest-work-men are repairing home So when quick Summons of Omnipotence Removes the Dressers of his Vineyard hence We may conclude the Gospel-morning past Because Gods Servants disappear so fast Can I when Gap-defenders fall asleep But like old Israel for my Prophets weep How can the naked and unguarded Flock Against devouring Wolves sustain the shock When of the Shepherds it is thus bereft When scarce a Moses or a Joshua's left How many active Guides most dearly lov'd By me have been in little time remov'd Scarce can I dry mine Eyes for loss of one But news arrives of many others gone Ah if my head were waters and each Eye A well of tears I could distil 'em dry Bright Lamps extinguish't and no other Lights Appear to chase the horrour of our nights Shook by concussions of my Foes I stand Whilst few are rais'd to hold my trembling hand If thus my Horsemen and Commanders dye What will become of the poor Infantry Who can support the burden of the day When such brave Hero's daily drop away Is summer past or is the harvest done That such Presages of a Storm come on Sure God as Monarchs do intendeth Wars When he recals his choice Embassadors Ah too Licentious world Come look about Before the Lord the bloudy Flag puts out When God from Sodom righteous Lot did call Sulphurious flashes did consume them all Another ground of my prevailing fear That England's black Catastrophe is near Is that as in the closure of the day The Evening-wolves do range abroad to prey So Romish Beasts in monstrous swarms do peep From their black Caverns to destroy my Sheep Such hate the tell tale-Light and therefore hide Themselves in Dens until the Ev'ning tide Their cursed products are resolves of night Like silent Curs that in the dark do bite Another Symptom of the days declension Is when the Shadows do increase dimension So when I look about I plainly see Our Ev'ning Shadows very long to be In humane bodies when the head grows hoary It notes decay of vigor strength and glory Gray hairs are thick upon our Ephraims head His Strength decays his Face is withered When Joynts grow palsi'd and the blood 's congeal'd Into a Jâ—lly can the man be heal'd When limbs grow Stiff and feeble Age does plow Its wrinkled furrows on the Patients brow When heat gives place to a benumming cold When doting fancy cares not to be told Of its approaches to a certain Grave When it rejects the Physick that would save The case is desperate for the Patient 's just Upon the point to be intomb'd in dust Even so Alas This gasping Nation lies Under the pressure of sad Maladies 'T is sick at heart yet seems averse to take That Sacred Physick whose Ingredients make Diseases vanish and would ward the blow Which will I fear produce its overthrow Ah! must our glory like a brittle Glass Reduc'd to fractions into Atomes pass So Rude a Chaos An unform'd confusion Threatning the whole with utter dissolution Once happy Isle I grieve at thy condition Where 's thy Repentance Where is thy contrition Thou hast been counted our Emanuel's Land The Gospel seems on Tip-toe now to stand To bid thee farewel Must thy Sun so soon Be set before it did approach to noon Must that illustrious Morning-light be gone That spread its beams through all our Horizon Must wretched Malice and prodigious Lust Must bare-fac'd pride and impudent distrust Rob thee of this inestimable Jewel How canst thou be so pittyless so cruel Unto thy self Sin is the flaming dart That cuts thy Veins and Wounds thy very heart Can Sion chuse but send out mournful cries And weep thy downfal in sad Elegies Within thy bounds my tabernacles were Built up and I did long inhabit here Thy Gospel-glory and Renown's gone forth Into all parts and corners of the Earth Thou maist be Justly stil'd the place of Vision Though made by foes an Object of derision The Joy of Saints the Protestants delight The Mark and Butt of Antichristian spite But if the Crown be ravish't from thy head And Romish Clouds thy Lustre overspread VVhat heart 's so brawny but my doleful cry Must move to pity VVhat relentless Eye Can see thy fall and not dissolve to drops Oh fleeting Joys Oh disappearing hopes Oh hastning horrour Oh invading fears Had I a sea of never empty'd tears My boundless helpless grief wide open sets The Sluces for its Streaming Rivulets The very Air drest in prodigious Forms Must groan in Thunder and must weep in Storms Nature of strong convulsions sickned is To see this horrid Metamorphosis VVhere Gospel Pastors did some Millions feed Must Blind and Sottish ignorance succeed Must all their throats be cut that won't
for England's good And if he please will Seal them with my Blood. O Blessed God destroy this black design Of Popish Consults it's in thee we trust Our Eyes are on thee help O Lord in time Thou God of Truth most Merciful and Just Do thou defend us or we perish must Save England Lord from Popish Cruelty My Countrey bless Thy will be done on me Mans Life 's a Voyage through a Sea of tears If he would gain the Haven of his Rest His signs must fill the Sails whilst some Men Steers When Storms arise let each man do his best And cast the Anchor of his hopes opprest Till Time or Death shall bring us to that Shore Where Time nor Death shall never be no more Laus Deo. Amen From my Prison in the Tower August 15 1681. Stephen Colledge Great Essex Ah thy groans methinks I hear What ne're a Friend hadst thou not one Friend near Noâ—e none to help in vain it was to cry When there were none but Savage Monsters nigh Since thy great Soul could not inticed be Noâ— wouldst conceal their cursed cruelty They make a bloody Tragedy of thee Surpriz'd lest all should be discovered Unto this Dev'lish Policy they were led And to conceal their horrid Plot they try Those wicked Arts which do it justifie Confirming it to all Posterity Though thy Assassinates like men appear Their curst attempt shew'd least of man was there Incarnate Devils certainly they were Ah cruel Tyrants destitute of shame To murder both thy Body and thy Name Could not thy Blood their hellish thirst suffice But must thou die a double Sacrifice What! cut thy Throat with such barbarity And when thy Soveraign also was so nigh The Royal Prison though a Tower strong Was no defence nor refuge to thee long Thou careful wast how to preserve thy life And yet didst fall by a curst Romish Knife Thy Head almost cut off and yet they cry That thy own hands did act the Tragedy â—â—t now we hope it plainly will appear Who the vile Actors who the Murderers were May I not borrow now as many do Some proper lines made on an Essex too Shall such a Noble Peer fall thus by Rome And shall I not drop tears upon his Tomb Shall none who loved him move for a Vote Ye Lords and Commons ye are bound to do 't A Vote that all on that same day o' th' year On which he fell shall mourn or shed a tear Or else be judg'd a` Papist It were wise T' erect an Office in my Childrens Eyes For issuing forth a constant sum of tears There 's no way else to pay him his Arrears And when we 've drien'd this Ages Eyes quite dry Let him be wept the next in History 1683. Renowned Great Lord Russel next 〈◊〉 Is markt out for this direful Tragedy Scarce had I dry'd mine Eyes for loss of one But they another Hero fall upon A braver Lord scarce ever lost his Head Nay few like him hath England ever bred From a most Noble Stem he did Spring forth And had a Spirit â—uited to his Birth Had I not wept so many tears before For him whole Rivers from mine Eyes might pour Had I an Helicon in either Eye The thoughts of Russel soon may draw them dry Great Soul too great for our inferior praise You for your self the Noblest Trophies raise Your Love to Sion and your Native Land Shall mention'd be ev'n while the Earth doth stande My loss and England's too who shall repair Great God! his hardned Enemies do not spare 'T was by the Blood of these Great Men I see England was freed from Rome's curst Tyranny T' avoid the Odium of their cursed Plot Which notwithstanding ne're will be forgot Another was contriv'd wherewith they thought The innocent to insnare who should be brought Thereby to ruin and then hop'd to see Sion and her best Friends would ruin'd be This was the Second part of Rome's design To work the overthrow of me and mine And these two Champions standing in their way With bloudy hands they villanously slay The first inhumanely was Murdered The other they did publickly Behead They charged him indeed with odious Crimes And many others too in those black times Crimes he to th' last did utterly deny Whose Noble Soul their malice did defie But Villains swore and he alas must die O Heav'n and Earth be ye astonished How fain would they have struck off my poor Head Yet of my Blood that they themselves might clear Good Protestants the scandal on 't must bear 1683. Sydney dear Sydney treacherously fell Whom I esteem'd a Prince in Israel Those Laws that were intended for defence Were wrested so thou couldst not have from thence Any relief but thou must likewise dye Although on thee no guilt at all did lye Jury and Judge dealt so inhumanely What hadst thou done what cause of death in the For Sion 't was 't was for thy Love to me Thy Principles were such Hell could not bear The thoughts thereof though publisht they ne're we Thou wast too Just and hadst such piercing Eyes Those Hellish Statesmen doubted a surprize And therefore made thee a third Sacrifice 1684. By Popish Arts many more ruin'd were Poor Holloway likewise fell into the snare B'ing from th' Western World a Prisoner brought By those who fiercely his destruction sought Who at the place of Execution Delivered his Bible unto one Of his Relations wherein he had writ The following lines which I do here transmit ' Owner hereof prize this and bless the Lord ' That yet to England doth his Word afford ' Had I liv'd longer hopes I should have had 'T' have seen times mend but now expect them bad ' Truth will not do for much of it I wrote ' And for 't I die much rather than the Plot. ' Did you know all you 'd say I did my part 'To free you from designed Popish smart And now alas behold my dismal case Great Flouds of sorrow follow on apace Many Religious Pious Men of worth Are rendred vile not fit to live on Earth Observe Rome's policy who contriv'd it so That Protestants should Protestants undo Conscience must now be basely shackled Against its Light impos'd on and misled And truckle like a Slave unto all those Who did Christ's Regal power in man oppose Either their Consciences must wounded lye Under despair for their Apostacy Or if they were resolved and sincere They loss of Goods Contempt and Scorn must bear Be sent to noisom Jayls or to Exile Which many chose rather than to defile Their precious Souls and treacherously dis-own Or yield the power of Christs righteous Throne Up to Usurpers who audaciously Cry All is Caesar ' s due and so deny God over Conscience has the Soveraignty No wonder they Laws violently break down That all our Civil Rights are overthrown That our Just Properties they take away And our most Ancient Liberties betray Since they the Glorious Monarchy of Heav'n
â—o now Invade and strive to have it given â—nto their hands that they may tread it down And impudently cry All is their own Grand Rebels what attempt the Right of God â—â— you not fear his dreadful Iron Rod Would you Dethrone him would your hellish spite â—â—â—rive both God and Man of their just Right This you design'd although in vain to do And Christ's blest Kingdom fain would overthrow One while they cry Conscience to them must beâ— Another time Christ's Right they did defend When it did seem to favour their design Conscience in all its rights they undermine But when they found 't would with their Interest staâ— And with th' Intrigues that they then had in hand They cry Nought's juster than that all men do To others as they would be done unto But to return nothing for many years Is seen but Persecution Bloud and Tears No Liberty at all Conscience must have But the Dissenters Prison proves his Grave Where hundreds of them lay long buried Whilst others of their Goods were plundered Many in filthy Jayls so long did lye That poysoned with the stench they there did dye Law and Religion both were trampled down And most good men term'd Enemies to the Crown Charters of Towns and Cities ta'ne away That Popery and Slavery might bear sway No Stone 〈…〉 unturn'd whereby they might Bring 〈◊〉 poor England an Eternal Night Of Popish darkness many therefore fled Whilst others were strangely dis-spirited Divers good Magistrates were laid aside And wicked men for Judges they provide Void of all fear of God who any thing Would give for Law they thought would please 〈◊〉 King Did a Dissenter Law or Justice crave He 's branded for a Rascal Rebel Slave Yet many men so strangely blinded were They could not see though things appear'd so clear Because that King a Protestant was thought Matters by him so cunningly were wrought And carried on but when he came to fall All things were plain and bare-fac't unto all For the next King his Visage did lay down And publickly himself a Papist own And I likewise more clearly did espy My dreadful danger then approaching nigh The Popish Plot under a Cloud was hid And a Sham Plot contrived in its stead Though own'd by three Successive Parliaments â—et all 's denied by Romish Innocents â—hose Jesuits who hang'd for Treason were Themselves free from all guilt or crime declare 〈◊〉 th' unborn Child nor is this strange since they 〈◊〉 Dispensation have That they may say Whatever will preserve their Cause from blame And Holy Church secure from her just shame 1685. Therefore is Dr. Oates brought on the Stage â—egraded and expos'd to brutish rage They on his Back their cruel strokes do lay Whereby their Hellish Plot they stifle may â—et let them whip and lash him till he die And practice all their Romish cruelty â—one of his Evidence he can deny 'T is to his Honour and Immortal praise And to his name it will high Trophies raise Those many hundred stripes laid on by Rome Are as so many Monuments become More great and lasting than a Marble Tomb. Poor Dangerfield couragious and bold Whom Rome's Incendiaries never could By horrid threats or subtle flattery Prevail upon to gainsay or deny What he of their Intrigues did testifie Unto a cruel whipping they him doom Which yet could not his Fortitude o'recome 'T would pierce ones Heart to think what miseries He suffered from his bloody Enemies And though perhaps not well prepar'd to die Yet he must fall by Romish Tyranny A Villain in the midst of all his pain Stabbing his tender Eye out with a Cane Which pierc't so deep he in great torments lay That never ceast till Death took him away The Fence b'ing thus thrown down the ravenous Beasts Rush in and of poor Innocents make Feasts Wild Boars and Bears yea Wolves and Tygers strive All to destroy and leave no Lambs alive Religion Laws though all good mens great care Yea and mens precious Lives they did not spare That England seem'd as if it were become A Scene of misery and a prey to Rome And what could Sion do Alas poor I Bewail'd my state but saw no comfort nigh Yea my poor Children about me hung B'ing hardly able to endure the wrong And sharp Assaults of those fierce Fiends of Hell Yet knew not how their malice to repel About this time i' th' West there did appear Some unto whom their Countrey was most dear Striving to free it but mistook the time And Person too who Landed then at Lyme A Man belov'd but not the Instrument God chosen had and now to us hath sent To save our Land and Sion from that blow Which would have been to both an overthrow 1685. But of my joys I must forbear to sing A doleful noise seems in my Ears to ring And still grows louder sure 't is from the West What 's that I see a cruel savage Beast A Man no sure a Monster though he came Of Humane Race he don't deserve that name A cursed Spirit of th' Infernal Legion A Lord Chief Justice of the Lower Region I cannot rest hot strugling rage aspires And fills my Free-born Soul with Noble Fires My Muse soars high and now she doth despise What e're below attempts to Tyrannize Ah! but again she faints how shall I tell What to those poor mistaken Souls befel The dismal news of Rapine Spoil and Blood Shed in those Parts which ran ev'n like a Flood Works strange Effects in my afflicted Soul For grief my Bowels do within me rowl In biting Satyr I could even contemn That Villanous Judge who Innocents did condemn Who on the Bench did nought but what he knew Would gratifie the bloody Popish Crew Though nature seems assistance to refuse Revenge and Anger both inspire my Muse. Shall the Wretch live why is he spar'd so long Justice seems to complain of having wrong Th' Infernai Daemons angry seem to say Dead or alive we him will fetch away And at his stay they all seem to repine That to their vengeance we don't him resign But Ah! his Blood can never recompence His ruining so many Innocents And it may seem the wonder of the time And some are apt to think may be a crime That we no more regard their memory Who for their Countries welfare dar'd to dye Poor Hearts who seeing we were drawing nigh To Vassalage and ROMISH Tyranny Resolv'd to save Religion and the Laws But mist and fell into this Tygers Claws Whose mind upon the prey was wholly bent Pitying none though ne're so Innocent bâ—â— like an hungry Wolf or furious Bear Without remorse the harmless Lambs did tear No time of preparation would he give To many nor Petitions would receive Nor would he hâ—aâ— their Wives and Childrens cry But scoâ—t and laught at them in â—isery And though they pity beg'd with sighs and groans He was relentless to their tears and moans Beg'd that distressed Widdows he 'l not make
things effect ere he has done I intermissions have now ease then pain Sometimes I soar aloft then down again Having thus spoke she bow'd and with her tears Bedew'd the parched Earth when straight appears A comforter by pittying Heav'n then sent To raise her drooping Spirits almost spent And his approach unto her having made In most obliging terms thus to her said Distressed Church I fully know thy grief And as thou hast received some relief So God will hear thy sighs and fervent Pray'rs And suddenly will wipe away all tears From thy wet Eyes and all thy griefs expell And in sweet peace and safety thou shalt dwell My Grand Design I 've publickly made known Each part whereof in time thou shalt see done Wait but with patience I for Englands good Think nought too much No not my dearest blood I equally my favour will extend To all whose Faithfulness shall them commend Unto my service and appear to be Lovers of Englands Ancient Liberty All Protestants I jointly will respect And equally my People will protect But yet the best deserving Men I will Imploy and chiefly them incourage still My subjects Hearts I would unite together That nothing might divide them more for ever I none but treacherous Papists will disown Or such as are sowrn Enemies to my Crown To such they must expect I shall appear As Justice leads me to it most severe The Good and Virtuous I shall always cherish That Truth and Goodness in my reign may flourish My coming was design'd to cover all That Persecution upon none should fall In these poor Kingdoms But that now at last Forgetting all the mischiefs which are past Whereby ill men contriv'd to bring about their Plots and root the true Religion out Not only here but likewise in each Land Where it establisht is by Christs right hand I now resolve if God will prosper me All Protestants shall safe and happy be And live in perfect Love and Unity Protestant Church GReat Sir your Speeches to your Parliament Sufficiently discover your intent Yea they revive our Souls neither do we See cause to doubt of your Integrity But hope that God who such great things hath wrought And by your hand this strange Deliverance brought Will so endear you to the hearts of all True Englishmen especially those that call Sincerely upon Heaven That they may cry With Pray'rs and Tears for you continually And never to the Throne of Grace draw near But you upon their tender Hearts may bear Your last most gracious offer That you 'l ease Your Subjects of so great a Tax doth please And them obliges to that high degree They all will strive who shall most Loyal be Your Justice in asserting each mans right To worship God according to that Light He hath receiv'd will multitudes procure To own your Interest and your Rights secure For who will not to Caesars Cause be true When Caesar unto God doth give his due And the Almighty's Government will maintain Who over Conscience is sole Soveraign If any do the Civil State disturb On such you justly ought to put a curb But if like Men and Christians they do live Doubtless just Liberty to them you 'l give Nor will our Parliament this Right deny Whose Protestant zeal hath rais'd their Fame so high For you we ought to praise the God of Heaven Who by your means such blessings hath us given When all our Liberties were near infring'd And Englands Fundamental Laws unhing'd When all things both in Church and State did run To ruin and we judg'd our selves undone You under God have now restor'd our Laws And likewise have defended Sions Cause The Mighty God Dread Prince chose you to be Our only help in great extremity With double blessings may you both be Crown'd Who in compassion to us did abound My Children resolve unanimously With you to stand and fall To'live and dye With hazard of your life their Chains you broke And off their necks remov'd the Romish Yoke With vast expence you this great act have done And of your Person have much danger run Shall I not then with all my Children cry We with our King and Queen will live and die Our lives we under God to you do owe And therefore whatsoever we can do Can 't be too much And in a grateful way We ought to strive your goodness to repay We find our rising proves our Enemies fall Where are they now that did us then inthrall They dig'd a Pit and in it fallen are Yea wonderfully catcht in their own snare This is Gods doing and is marvellous Even to our Enemies as well as us And therefore now my self I must address Unto the God of Truth and Righteousness I 'le lift my Soul to him in Thanks and Praise And ne're forget his Wonders in these days The Churches Song of Praise and Thanksgiving to God for her late Gracious deliverance OH matchless Grace Oh Love beyond degree Now I am certain there is none like thee In Heav'n or Earth I will Praise thee therefore For thou a Salve hast now found for my sore Transported by thy Love with Joy I cry My ravisht Spirit must exalt the High And Mighty God by whose unbounded grace My heart 's enlarg'd to run the blessed race Thou shalt conduct me to the Living Springs From thence I 'le rise up as with Eagles Wings Unto that heavenly Mount of Faiths desire Where thy Transcendent Glory I 'll admire And in those happy Seats of Bliss above I 'l be imbraced in thy Arms of Love. I 'l hold thee fast and never let thee go For by thy loss Oh what a depth of woe Did I fall into What a dreadful case Was I in when thou Lord didst hide thy face If I have thee I nothing else need trave Without thee if all else I nothing have Nothing without thee is of worth to me All things are vanity compar'd to thee To be thy Portion Lord thou didst me chuse And sure so great a grace I 'll ne're refuse Thou art my Saviour and my Heritage My Sanctuary too from Age to Age I therefore evermore will dwell with thee And thou alone my hiding place shalt be When I was fal'n thou raisedst me on High For which thy blessed name I 'll magnify Thou didst in mercy look on my distress When I Lord was in woful heaviness Beset with cruel Foes and could not sâ—â— The many dangers that incompast me Thou didst observe my ruin very near And thou didst suddenly for me appear Didst send thy Servant speedily away To save me from the ravenous Beasts of Prey Thou like a tender Father couldst not see Thy Children fail by Romish Cruelty Thy special favours may I ne're forget Let them with Power on my heart be set Ah! how unworthy was this sinful Land For whom thou didst stretch forth thy mighty hand To save and help them in that dreadful hour When all their hope was lost and all their power Though thy